NBA Rumors: Pre-Deadline Trade Buzz on Ty Lawson, Enes Kanter and More
As Thursday's trade deadline rapidly approaches, the NBA's procrastinators are running out of time to wheel and deal.
Several notable deals have already gone down this season, but a few notable names continue to float around the trading block. Although some rumors never amount to more than a fun discussion, others say a lot about an organization's thought process.
The Western Conference is a terrible place for a struggling team. Any team stuck with a losing record can't harbor any playoff fantasies, causing contenders to badger it for its top talent. Those talks usually involve veteran role players, but the latest batch of rumors all involve valuable assets either preceding or currently in their peak.
No team so far out of the playoff hunt possesses as many assets as the Denver Nuggets. They already flipped Timofey Mozgov to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a lucrative return, and now swingmen Arron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler are popular trade candidates at the deadline.
Yet some organizations are aiming higher, attempting to pry star point guard Ty Lawson from the 20-33 franchise. According to The Denver Post's Chris Dempsey, the Nuggets have turned down all inquiries sent their way:
The 27-year-old leads Denver in scoring (16.9 points per game) while distributing the ball more frequently than anybody from the West. ESPN Stats & Info shows where he stands on the assists leaderboard:
Grantland's Zach Lowe mentioned the Boston Celtics—who dealt Rajon Rondo two months ago—as an interested party. He added that, while anybody besides rookie center Jusuf Nurkic could be had for the right deal, Lawson or Kenneth Faried would take a "Godfather offer."
Firmly in retooling mode, the Celtics are highly unlikely to make that offer the Nuggets can't refuse. With Lawson under contract for two more seasons, there's no reason for Denver to settle for anything thrown its way. Expect Lawson to stay put.
Enes Kanter
Reports of Enes Kanter's frustration with the Utah Jazz, per The Salt Lake Tribune's Aaron Falk, have created a stream of trade possibilities. As Rudy Gobert thrives under the rim, Kanter's unhappiness could make him expendable.
Don't expect Utah to make a move unless blown away. Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski detail the club's lofty demands:
Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune echoed those sentiments, confirming the Jazz's desire to keep him around despite his trade request.
"Enes Kanter and his agent very publicly asked the Jazz last week to trade the young center by Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
However, the Jazz are unlikely to bend to Kanter's demand.
The Salt Lake Tribune has learned, via NBA sources, that while the team will listen to offers, Kanter is still valued highly by the franchise and very much in its long-term plans.
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Making matters dicier for a long-term union, the 22-year-old center becomes a restricted free agent this offseason. The Jazz can match any contract he signs to trap him in Utah, but he'll net a hefty offer sheet averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Gobert is making a strong case to leapfrog Kanter for more playing time, shooting 62.9 percent with 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks through 21.9 minutes. Despite their contrasting styles, the Jazz should carefully explore all offers before the deadline.
Nik Stauskas
One of the more surprising talking points, the Sacramento Kings are considering cutting 2014 first-round pick Nik Stauskas loose.
Through 50 games, the No. 8 selection has posted a dreadful 3.4 points per game on a 32.8 field-goal percentage. Chosen for his shooting stroke, the Michigan alum has made just 24 three-pointers in 92 tries.
Per Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy, that poor production has the Kings shopping him in hopes of making a big move.
On one hand, trading a rookie makes little sense for the NBA's sixth-worst team. On the other hand, trading him now makes even less sense with his value in such peril. What type of package will turn the Kings into a decent team, and would it justify parting with a recent top-10 pick and more?
The Kings have made some questionable calls over the years, and trading Stauskas would only add to that list.
All contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
